THE GRUMMAN E-2C HAWKEYE AIRCRAFT

In addition to the United States, four other countries currently employ the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft: Egypt, Israel, Singapore and Japan. The aircraft may be easily identified by its 24-foot diameter rotodome and four vertical tails. E-2C flight crew will normally consist of a Pilot (P), Copilot (CP), Combat Information Center Officer (CICO), Aircraft Control Officer (ACO), and Radar Officer (RO).

There are two versions of E-2C Hawkeye aircraft being flown by the U.S. Navy. Built during the early 1970s, the "Group 0" uses the APS 138 radar and is powered by two Allison T-56-A-425 turboprop engines with constant speed Hamilton-Standard propellers. Each engine develops a maximum of 4,600 Indicated Horsepower (IHP) at takeoff. The "Group II" began entering the U.S. Fleet in the early 1990s and is scheduled to replace all remaining "Group 0" aircraft within the next ten years. The "Group II" uses the APS-145 radar (which provides improved detection) and is powered by two T-56-A-427 turboprop engines with a maximum of 5,100 IHP at takeoff.

UNITED STATES NAVY E-2C HAWKEYE SQUADRONS

There are currently 11 E-2C squadrons in the U.S. Navy. The East Coast squadrons, located in Norfolk, Virginia are: VAW-120 "Greyhawks" (training squadron), VAW-121 "Blue Tails", VAW-123 "Screwtops" (currently transitioning to Group II aircraft), VAW-124 "Bear Aces", VAW-125 "Tiger Tails", and VAW-126 "Seahawks". Flying "Group II" Hawkeyes, the West Coast squadrons, located in Miramar, California are: VAW-112 "Golden Hawks", VAW-113 "Black Eagles", VAW-116 "Sun Kings" and VAW-117 "Wall Bangers".

Considered a West Coast squadron, the VAW-115 "Liberty Bells" are attached to Carrier Air Wing 5, embarked on the USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62), as part of Forward Deployed Naval Forces home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. Its home airfield, Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, is located in Ayase-Shi, Japan. Due to its overseas location, the Liberty Bells enjoy myriad of opportunities and challenges that are unique to forward deployed units. By being in the Far East, Carrier Air Wing 5 often enjoys exciting liberty portcalls to Hawaii, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Republic of Korea, and Hong Kong. Since USS INDEPENDENCE does not follow the traditional deployment schedule of aircraft carriers home ported in the United States (six months at sea followed by one year in port), VAW-115 engages in a diverse and dynamic training schedule, often participating in multinational exercises and joint cooperation with U.S. Air Force assets.